A woman went on TV today to reveal why she is growing a moustache and beard for charity.

Housewife Siobhain Fletcher joined thousands of men around the UK by sprouting facial hair as part of Movember.

The 36-year-old has suffered from excessive facial hair since she was a teenager, caused by polycystic ovary syndrome.

In the past, the condition has left her afraid to leave the house.

But rather than shy away, Siobhain, from Leek, Staffordshire, plucked up the courage to show off her goatee on ITV1 show This Morning.

She said: “It was a spur of the moment decision. It isn’t a sideshow. I’m doing it to raise awareness for cancer.”

Siobhain, who shaves every other day – sometimes with husband Jim, 42 – has raised over £700 for Movember, which raises awareness for men’s health.

She added: “My sister said she’d pay me £50 not to do it. Some of my friends agreed with her.

"I said that I was doing it anyway because I am stubborn and pig-headed and it’s gone from a comment on Facebook, through the local papers and now on national television.

“And now it’s actually saying to the world, look, this isn’t a sideshow, I’m doing this to raise awareness for men’s cancer to stop families possibly losing a family member and also to help people with self-esteem issues to say, ‘It doesn’t matter'.

"It’s no different from wearing a skirt or wearing trousers.

"People will still look as beautiful with facial hair as without it, and those people that are neurotic about it, they can do it, they can get out and it’s not going to be as negative as they think.”

Siobhain admitted she will shave off the facial fuzz after November, adding: “I’m taking it off only because it’s itchy, very itchy, and I’m not used to it.